Texas Beach Watch

The goal of the Texas Beach Watch program is to provide the public with information about water quality at selected recreational beaches along the Texas coast in Aransas, Brazoria, Cameron, Galveston, Harris, and Jefferson, Matagorda, Nueces and San Patricio counties.

General Disclaimer

This web application is intended for general informational purposes only and is provided as a public service for a user's personal use. While the GLO will regularly review, update, and expand this application, information may not be complete or may have been modified or changed since the latest update of the application. The enterococcus bacteria levels (fecal bacteria) at sites listed on this website depend upon the season, site conditions, and weather conditions, which change over time and are outside of the control of the GLO. GLO does not test for any other bacteria, including the vulnificus bacteria (flesh eating). The timeliness of the information on this website depends on the accessibility of the sites tested for bacteria, weather conditions, and other factors and should not be the sole basis for determining the water quality and safety of the water at Texas recreational beaches.

The GLO makes no representations or warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, either express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the information or data depicted on this application. GLO specifically disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any claims or damages that may result from the use of information or the inaccessibility of the information on this application.v

Disclaimer for Third Party Links

GLO does not endorse, exercise oversight, or assume responsibility or liability for any third-party contributor to this web application or any website that links to or from this web application. GLO disclaims any and all liability for any use or inability to access or use websites maintained by third parties that are linked to or from this website. GLO does not endorse the content, viewpoints, or comments posted to this website or linked to other websites by users of this web application.

Copyright Disclaimer

Certain content may be owned by the GLO, jointly owned with a third party, or be provided under lease by a third party and may be subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights. GLO does not authorize reproduction, distribution, display of, or the creation of derivative works from any part of this web application without approval from the holder of the intellectual property right. You may be liable for any unauthorized copying or disclosure of any copyrighted content on this web application. If you believe that any content on this web application has been used in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or if you have copyright inquiries, please contact beachwatch@glo.texas.gov. If you believe that copyright infringement has occurred, provide a name and contact information for the complaint, a written description of the alleged infringement, and materials that show the existence of a copyright. If GLO determines that a copyright infringement exists, it will remove the infringing material in accordance with the Millennium Copy Right Act.

Privacy

The Texas General Land Office analyzes server logs for statistical purposes only and makes no attempt to personally identify Web site visitors. Statistics such as time, date, or pages requested are used for assessing the information of most interest to users and identifying system performance or problem areas. The GLO Web site does not use "cookies" (small text files created by the web server that reside on the user's hard drive) to track specific information and does not collect information through other technological processes. Information collected by electronic mail and by web forms may be subject to the Public Information Act; however, email addresses of those who correspond with the GLO are confidential and may not be disclosed unless the sender agrees to such.

Privacy Policy

Privacy and Security Policy

This policy describes the General Land Offices' privacy and security practices regarding information collected from visitors to the application. It addresses the collection of information, the security of information we collect through the web application, and its use and accessibility. The policy applies to the entire web application.

Although no computer system can be completely secure, GLO has deployed extensive security measures to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. Describe any control systems, software, or auditing processes?

Please note that all information collected or maintained by GLO is subject the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Section 552 of the Texas Government Code. The email addresses of most members of the public who communicate with state agencies through the Internet are confidential under the PIA. Exceptions to confidentiality may be reviewed at Section 552.137 of the Texas Government Code. For further information about the PIA, please contact by email at PIALegal@glo.texas.gov or by phone at 512-463-9072.

An individual who submits information in electronic format through this application or an email is entitled, on request, to receive and review the information GLO has collected about the individual, and to have GLO correct the information. To request information, please contact XXXX. To protect your privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to help verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

Any information collected is by the GLO is subject to state law on records retention and agency retention policies. For information out our records retention policies please contact XXXX.

Email

State agencies may not sell or release the email addresses of most members of the public that have been provided to communicate electronically with a government body without the affirmative consent. Exemptions to this confidentiality may be reviewed at Texas Government Code, Section 552.137. Personally identifiable information contained in a question or comment sent to GLO in an email message is only used by the GLO to respond to the request and to analyze trends. To the extent necessary and appropriate, GLO may redirect the message to another government agency or government employee who is in a better position to answer the question.

The Texas General Land Office analyzes server logs for statistical purposes only and makes no attempt to personally identify Web site visitors. Statistics such as time, date, or pages requested are used for assessing the information of most interest to users and identifying system performance or problem areas. The GLO Web site does not use "cookies" (small text files created by the web server that reside on the user's hard drive) to track specific information and does not collect information through other technological processes. Information collected by electronic mail and by web forms may be subject to the Public Information Act; however, email addresses of those who correspond with the GLO are confidential and may not be disclosed unless the sender agrees to such.

GLO Cookies

A cookie is an extremely small text file that resides on the user's hard drive which is created at the request of the Web server to track specific information about the user. GLO uses a persistent, first-party cookie in order to recognize a return visitor. GLO's cookie will expire after 60 days. Third parties that support the application use persistent, third-party cookies for purposes of tracking and monitoring the application as described below. For instructions on how to disable or remove our/any cookie from your web browser see GLO's website cookie FAQ sheet.

Your use of the application means you consent to the storing and accessing of cookies or other information.

Server logs and log analysis tools

GLO makes no attempt to collect personally identifying information on users of our web application. GLO does not report or use the information we collect in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information and does not release information about our users to any outside parties unless required to do so under law or as otherwise described in this policy.

GLO uses Google Analytics, a Web analytics service provided by Google, Inc., to collect and track data that GLO uses to manage our web application . GLO also uses Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to provide mapping and direction services to users of our application. GLO, in conjunction with these providers, uses persistent, third party cookies, server logs, and log analysis tools to obtain summary statistics about the application. This information is collected on GLO's behalf and may be transmitted from your computer to the computers or servers of one of these third parties. The data collected is used to assess what information is of most interest to our users, monitor technical design specifications and performance, identify problems and areas for improvement, and monitor the overall effectiveness of the application. The data collected is only used in the aggregate. GLO does not use raw data logs for any other purpose than to manage and improve the web application. However, it is possible that all or parts of raw data logs could be determined to be Open Records by the Office of the Attorney General, which would require disclosure to a third party under the PIA.

Google Analytics collects information such as URLs, internet domain and host names, browser information, request parameters, and the date and time that the application is visited. Personal identifying information is not collected on the users of our web application by Google Analytics. Goggle collects the data, stores it, and uses it to prepare reports for the GLO on the activities of the application and may share the data with other Google services. Google may use the data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. Google Analytics captures the data and maintains and uses the data in accordance with Google Analytics terms of use and Google's privacy policy. You can find out more about Google’s data collection or opt out by clicking on Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

ESRI collects information such as XXX. Personal identifying information is not collected on the users of our web application by ESRI. ESRI only collects personally identifiable information, such as your name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address if you provide this information to them voluntarily. ESRI's website/service uses third-party web analytics services that collect and aggregate web surfing data. These services may record your mouse clicks, mouse movements, scrolling activity, and any text you type. ESRI captures the data and maintains and uses the data in accordance with ESRI's terms of use and ESRI's privacy policy. ESRI will permit you to access and correct information about you in their database if you contact info@esri.com. You can find out more about ESRIS’s data collection or opt out by clicking on ESRI opt-out.

For any questions or concerns about the Privacy and Security policy, please contact XXX.

Disclaimer

General Disclaimer

This web application is intended for general informational purposes only and is provided as a public service for a user's personal use. While the GLO will regularly review, update, and expand this application, information may not be complete or may have been modified or changed since the latest update of the application. The enterococcus bacteria levels (fecal bacteria) at sites listed on this website depend upon the season, site conditions, and weather conditions, which change over time and are outside of the control of the GLO. GLO does not test for any other bacteria, including the vulnificus bacteria (flesh eating). The timeliness of the information on this website depends on the accessibility of the sites tested for bacteria, weather conditions, and other factors and should not be the sole basis for determining the water quality and safety of the water at Texas recreational beaches.

The GLO makes no representations or warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, either express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the information or data depicted on this application. GLO specifically disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any claims or damages that may result from the use of information or the inaccessibility of the information on this application.v

Disclaimer for Third Party Links

GLO does not endorse, exercise oversight, or assume responsibility or liability for any third-party contributor to this web application or any website that links to or from this web application. GLO disclaims any and all liability for any use or inability to access or use websites maintained by third parties that are linked to or from this website. GLO does not endorse the content, viewpoints, or comments posted to this website or linked to other websites by users of this web application.

Copyright Disclaimer

Certain content may be owned by the GLO, jointly owned with a third party, or be provided under lease by a third party and may be subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights. GLO does not authorize reproduction, distribution, display of, or the creation of derivative works from any part of this web application without approval from the holder of the intellectual property right. You may be liable for any unauthorized copying or disclosure of any copyrighted content on this web application. If you believe that any content on this web application has been used in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or if you have copyright inquiries, please contact beachwatch@glo.texas.gov. If you believe that copyright infringement has occurred, provide a name and contact information for the complaint, a written description of the alleged infringement, and materials that show the existence of a copyright. If GLO determines that a copyright infringement exists, it will remove the infringing material in accordance with the Millennium Copy Right Act.

Privacy

The Texas General Land Office analyzes server logs for statistical purposes only and makes no attempt to personally identify Web site visitors. Statistics such as time, date, or pages requested are used for assessing the information of most interest to users and identifying system performance or problem areas. The GLO Web site does not use "cookies" (small text files created by the web server that reside on the user's hard drive) to track specific information and does not collect information through other technological processes. Information collected by electronic mail and by web forms may be subject to the Public Information Act; however, email addresses of those who correspond with the GLO are confidential and may not be disclosed unless the sender agrees to such.

Texas Beach Watch

The goal of the Texas Beach Watch program is to provide the public with information about water quality at selected recreational beaches along the Texas coast in Aransas, Brazoria, Cameron, Galveston, Harris, and Jefferson, Matagorda, Nueces and San Patricio counties. . The program monitors these Texas’ recreational beaches and when Enterococcus bacteria levels in the water exceed the acceptable standards established by the EPA, the GLO works with local governments to issue advisories warning the public not to swim in affected waters.

Water samples are collected and tested at selected recreational beaches along the Texas coast in Aransas, Brazoria, Cameron, Galveston, Harris, and Jefferson, Matagorda, Nueces and San Patricio counties. During the peak beach season, which runs from May through September, water samples are collected weekly. During the rest of the year samples are collected every two weeks. The one exception occurs in March when weekly sampling is conducted at Gulf of Mexico beaches to coincide with spring break.

The water quality information on the Texas Beach Watch site is updated each time sample results are entered into the database. Local governments post advisory signs provided by the GLO at beach access points where the water quality exceeds acceptable bacterial levels.

Texas Beach Watch is a program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO), which administers the program.

Water Sampling

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended single sample maximum criterion for Enterococcus bacteria is 104 colony forming units (CFU) per 100 ml. When the counts are above this level, swimming is not recommended.

We measure the bacteria counts and rate the beach advisory levels as follows:

LowBacteria counts less than 35 cfu/100 ml.

MediumBacteria counts are between 35 and 104 cfu/100 ml.

HighBacteria counts are greater than 104 cfu/100 ml. An advisory for this beach is recommended.

The following
information is provided so the general public can understand
some of the risks associated with swimming in waters contaminated
with fecal matter. This information is taken from Chapter 1 of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National
Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants (EPA-823-B-02-004)
document released in June 2002.

Indicator
Organisms

Indicator
organisms are a fundamental monitoring tool used to measure both
changes in environmental (water) quality or conditions and the
potential presence of hard-to-detect target pathogenic organisms.
An indicator organism provides evidence of the presence or absence
of a pathogenic organism that survives under similar physical,
chemical, and nutrient conditions. Indicator organisms have the
following characteristics:

Are
easily detected using simple laboratory tests.

Generally
not be present in unpolluted waters.

Appear
in concentrations that can be correlated with the extent of
contamination.

Have
a die-off rate that is not faster than the die-off rate of
the pathogens of concern.

Because
it is difficult to directly detect the many different pathogens
or parasites that may be present in surface waters, the presence
of fecal bacteria has long been used as an indicator of the possible
presence of disease-causing organisms. The bacterium used for
the Texas Beach Watch Program and other coastal states is Enterococcus.

Pathogen
Groups

Pathogens
are defined as disease-causing microorganisms. Microorganisms
are ever present in all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Many
types are beneficial, functioning as agents for chemical decomposition,
food sources for larger animals, and essential components of
the nitrogen cycle and other biogeochemical cycles. Some microorganisms
reside in the bodies of animals and aid in the digestion of food;
others are used for medical purposes such as providing antibiotics.
The small subset of microorganisms that cause human diseases
are known as human pathogens. If taken into the body, such pathogens
can cause gastrointestinal illness or even death. The source
of these microorganisms is usually the feces of humans and other
warm-blooded animals. The pathogens most commonly identified
and associated with waterborne diseases can be grouped into three
general categories: bacteria, protozoans, and viruses.

Bacteria
are unicellular organisms that lack an organized nucleus and
contain no chlorophyll. They contain a single chromosome and
typically reproduce by binary fission, during which a single
cell divides to form two new cells. A primary source of concern
to EPA is feces from warm-blooded animals, including fecal waste
associated with farming and the discharge of domestic sewage.
Feces can contain many types of bacteria found in waterbodies,
including the coliform group, streptococcus, lactobacillus, staphylococcus,
and clostridia. It is important to note, however, that most bacteria
are not pathogenic.

Protozoans
are unicellular organisms that reproduce by fission and occur
primarily in the aquatic environment. Pathogenic protozoans,
which constitute almost 30 percent of the 35,000 known species
of protozoans, originate in the feces of warm-blooded animals.
They can exist in the environment as cysts that hatch, grow,
and multiply after ingestion, causing associated illness. Encystation
of protozoans facilitates their survival by protecting them from
harsh conditions like high temperature and salinity. Two protozoan
species of major concern as waterborne pathogens are Giardia
lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum.

Viruses
are a group of infectious agents that require a host in which
to live. They are composed of a sequence of nucleic acids-either
DNA or RNA, depending on the virus-that is covered by a protein
shell for protection. The most significant virus group affecting
water quality and human health grows and reproduces in cells
of the gastrointestinal tract of infected animals. These enteric
viruses are excreted in feces and include hepatitis A, rotaviruses,
caliciviruses (Norwalklike viruses), adenoviruses, enteroviruses,
and reoviruses.

Health
Concerns

The
main route of exposure to disease-causing organisms in recreation
waters is contact with polluted water while swimming, including
accidental ingestion of contaminated water. In waters that contain
fecal contamination, potentially all the waterborne diseases
spread by the fecal-oral route could be contracted by bathers.
These illnesses include diseases resulting from the following:

Swimming
in contaminated water most frequently causes gastroenteritis.
Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract,
usually caused by a microorganism. Symptoms include chills, nausea,
diarrhea, and fever.

Although
bathing in contaminated water most often results in contracting
diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, diseases affecting
the eye, ear, skin, and upper respiratory tract can be contracted
as well. Infection often results when pathogenic microorganisms
come into contact with small breaks and tears in the skin or
ruptures in delicate membranes in the ear or nose resulting from
the trauma associated with diving into the water. The attached
table provides a list of diseases that can result from contact
with water contaminated with anthropogenically introduced or
naturally occurring bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens.

Texas General Land Office Accessibility Policy:

The Texas General Land Office is committed to making its website accessible to all users. To make the site more accessible, we include features designed to improve accessibility for users with disabilities. Two examples of these features are described below.

A descriptive text equivalent is provided for images and other non-text elements, aiding users who listen to the content of the site by using a screen reader, rather than reading the site.

Major reports and other publications that are on the website are in formats compatible with common assistive technologies. Alternative formats may be made available upon request.

The GLO is committed to website availability for all of our customers and follows the guidelines for accessibility defined by DIR guidelines. The agency has an IT accessibility coordinator who can assist customers with any accessibility questions or needs. Requests for exceptions to the policy are handled in accordance with TAC 213, rule 17. Documentation associated with such requests are maintained by the GLO Information Systems administration division.

The GLO welcomes comments on how to improve the site's accessibility for users with disabilities. If you use assistive technology and the format of any material available from the General Land Office interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us. To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the Web address of the requested material, and your contact information.

Standards for Compliance:

The General Land Office ensures accessibility to all digital media regardless of individual ability, by keeping informed of current accessibility practices and conducting testing of all content at time of posting to the website. We achieve verification of the website's conformance with Section 508 by means of various automated testing tools.

Privacy Policy

Privacy and Security Policy

This policy describes the General Land Offices' privacy and security practices regarding information collected from visitors to the application. It addresses the collection of information, the security of information we collect through the web application, and its use and accessibility. The policy applies to the entire web application.

Although no computer system can be completely secure, GLO has deployed extensive security measures to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. Describe any control systems, software, or auditing processes?

Please note that all information collected or maintained by GLO is subject the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Section 552 of the Texas Government Code. The email addresses of most members of the public who communicate with state agencies through the Internet are confidential under the PIA. Exceptions to confidentiality may be reviewed at Section 552.137 of the Texas Government Code. For further information about the PIA, please contact by email at PIALegal@glo.texas.gov or by phone at 512-463-9072.

An individual who submits information in electronic format through this application or an email is entitled, on request, to receive and review the information GLO has collected about the individual, and to have GLO correct the information. To request information, please contact beachwatch@glo.texas.gov. To protect your privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to help verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

Any information collected is by the GLO is subject to state law on records retention and agency retention policies. For information out our records retention policies please contact XXXX.

Email

State agencies may not sell or release the email addresses of most members of the public that have been provided to communicate electronically with a government body without the affirmative consent. Exemptions to this confidentiality may be reviewed at Texas Government Code, Section 552.137. Personally identifiable information contained in a question or comment sent to GLO in an email message is only used by the GLO to respond to the request and to analyze trends. To the extent necessary and appropriate, GLO may redirect the message to another government agency or government employee who is in a better position to answer the question.

Your use of the application means you consent to the storing and accessing of cookies or other information.

GLO Cookies

A cookie is an extremely small text file that resides on the user's hard drive which is created at the request of the Web server to track specific information about the user. GLO uses a persistent, first-party cookie in order to recognize a return visitor. GLO's cookie will expire after 60 days. Third parties that support the application use persistent, third-party cookies for purposes of tracking and monitoring the application as described below. For instructions on how to disable or remove our/any cookie from your web browser see GLO's website cookie FAQ sheet.

Your use of the application means you consent to the storing and accessing of cookies or other information.

Server logs and log analysis tools

GLO makes no attempt to collect personally identifying information on users of our web application. GLO does not report or use the information we collect in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information and does not release information about our users to any outside parties unless required to do so under law or as otherwise described in this policy.

GLO uses Google Analytics, a Web analytics service provided by Google, Inc., to collect and track data that GLO uses to manage our web application . GLO also uses Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to provide mapping and direction services to users of our application. GLO, in conjunction with these providers, uses persistent, third party cookies, server logs, and log analysis tools to obtain summary statistics about the application. This information is collected on GLO's behalf and may be transmitted from your computer to the computers or servers of one of these third parties. The data collected is used to assess what information is of most interest to our users, monitor technical design specifications and performance, identify problems and areas for improvement, and monitor the overall effectiveness of the application. The data collected is only used in the aggregate. GLO does not use raw data logs for any other purpose than to manage and improve the web application. However, it is possible that all or parts of raw data logs could be determined to be Open Records by the Office of the Attorney General, which would require disclosure to a third party under the PIA.

Google Analytics collects information such as URLs, internet domain and host names, browser information, request parameters, and the date and time that the application is visited. Personal identifying information is not collected on the users of our web application by Google Analytics. Goggle collects the data, stores it, and uses it to prepare reports for the GLO on the activities of the application and may share the data with other Google services. Google may use the data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. Google Analytics captures the data and maintains and uses the data in accordance with Google Analytics terms of use and Google's privacy policy. You can find out more about Google’s data collection or opt out by clicking on Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

ESRI collects information such as XXX. Personal identifying information is not collected on the users of our web application by ESRI. ESRI only collects personally identifiable information, such as your name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address if you provide this information to them voluntarily. ESRI's website/service uses third-party web analytics services that collect and aggregate web surfing data. These services may record your mouse clicks, mouse movements, scrolling activity, and any text you type. ESRI captures the data and maintains and uses the data in accordance with ESRI's terms of use and ESRI's privacy policy. ESRI will permit you to access and correct information about you in their database if you contact info@esri.com. You can find out more about ESRIS’s data collection or opt out by clicking on ESRI opt-out.

For any questions or concerns about the Privacy and Security policy, please contact XXX.

Disclaimer

General Disclaimer

This web application is intended for general informational purposes only and is provided as a public service for a user's personal use. While the GLO will regularly review, update, and expand this application, information may not be complete or may have been modified or changed since the latest update of the application. The enterococcus bacteria levels (fecal bacteria) at sites listed on this website depend upon the season, site conditions, and weather conditions, which change over time and are outside of the control of the GLO. GLO does not test for any other bacteria, including the vulnificus bacteria (flesh eating). The timeliness of the information on this website depends on the accessibility of the sites tested for bacteria, weather conditions, and other factors and should not be the sole basis for determining the water quality and safety of the water at Texas recreational beaches.

The GLO makes no representations or warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, either express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the information or data depicted on this application. GLO specifically disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any claims or damages that may result from the use of information or the inaccessibility of the information on this application.v

Disclaimer for Third Party Links

GLO does not endorse, exercise oversight, or assume responsibility or liability for any third-party contributor to this web application or any website that links to or from this web application. GLO disclaims any and all liability for any use or inability to access or use websites maintained by third parties that are linked to or from this website. GLO does not endorse the content, viewpoints, or comments posted to this website or linked to other websites by users of this web application.

Copyright Disclaimer

Certain content may be owned by the GLO, jointly owned with a third party, or be provided under lease by a third party and may be subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights. GLO does not authorize reproduction, distribution, display of, or the creation of derivative works from any part of this web application without approval from the holder of the intellectual property right. You may be liable for any unauthorized copying or disclosure of any copyrighted content on this web application. If you believe that any content on this web application has been used in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or if you have copyright inquiries, please contact beachwatch@glo.texas.gov. If you believe that copyright infringement has occurred, provide a name and contact information for the complaint, a written description of the alleged infringement, and materials that show the existence of a copyright. If GLO determines that a copyright infringement exists, it will remove the infringing material in accordance with the Millennium Copy Right Act.

Privacy

The Texas General Land Office analyzes server logs for statistical purposes only and makes no attempt to personally identify Web site visitors. Statistics such as time, date, or pages requested are used for assessing the information of most interest to users and identifying system performance or problem areas. The GLO Web site does not use "cookies" (small text files created by the web server that reside on the user's hard drive) to track specific information and does not collect information through other technological processes. Information collected by electronic mail and by web forms may be subject to the Public Information Act; however, email addresses of those who correspond with the GLO are confidential and may not be disclosed unless the sender agrees to such.

Link Policy

Texas General Land Office Links Policy:

The GLO complies with the link policies established by the Department of Information Resources for all state agencies.

Texas General Land Office Accessibility Policy:

The Texas General Land Office is committed to making its website accessible to all users. To make the site more accessible, we include features designed to improve accessibility for users with disabilities. Two examples of these features are described below.

A descriptive text equivalent is provided for images and other non-text elements, aiding users who listen to the content of the site by using a screen reader, rather than reading the site.

Major reports and other publications that are on the website are in formats compatible with common assistive technologies. Alternative formats may be made available upon request.

The GLO is committed to website availability for all of our customers and follows the guidelines for accessibility defined by DIR guidelines. The agency has an IT accessibility coordinator who can assist customers with any accessibility questions or needs. Requests for exceptions to the policy are handled in accordance with TAC 213, rule 17. Documentation associated with such requests are maintained by the GLO Information Systems administration division.

The GLO welcomes comments on how to improve the site's accessibility for users with disabilities. If you use assistive technology and the format of any material available from the General Land Office interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us. To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the Web address of the requested material, and your contact information.

Standards for Compliance:

The General Land Office ensures accessibility to all digital media regardless of individual ability, by keeping informed of current accessibility practices and conducting testing of all content at time of posting to the website. We achieve verification of the website's conformance with Section 508 by means of various automated testing tools.

Texas Beach Watch Historical Water Quality Data

The Texas General Land Office annually reports water quality data for Texas beaches to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent report submitted contained the 2014 data. The 2015 data will be reported to EPA in January 2016.

EPA recently updated BEACON to include several enhancements and has named the new system BEACON 2.0. The BEACON 2.0 User's Guide describes how to use the online BEACON 2.0 system to obtain state-reported beach monitoring and notification data.

Credits

This project is funded, in part, by a Grant approved by the Texas Land Commissioner pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No NA11NOS4190107.

Q: What is the BEACH Act?

A: The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act was passed by Congress in 2000 to protect public health in coastal recreational waters. It established uniform criteria for testing, monitoring and notifying the public users of possible coastal recreation water problems. It also requires that states, in cooperation with EPA, develop and implement a program to monitor, for pathogens and pathogen indicators, coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches that are used by the public and to notify the public if water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators are exceeded.
In July 2001, the Office of the Governor appointed the Texas General Land Office (GLO) as the lead state agency responsible for implementing the provisions of the BEACH Act, as they applied to the state, because of its existing Beach Watch Program. This program started in the late 1990s as a fledgling water-quality monitoring program funded by the Coastal Management Program. To date, the Texas Beach Watch Program has received more than $2.5 million in federal funding to implement the program and meet the requirements of the BEACH Act.

Q: What is the Texas Beach Watch Program?

A: Texas Beach Watch is a program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the Texas General Land Office to monitor water quality at Texas' recreational beaches. When bacteria levels in the water exceed the acceptable standards established by the EPA, the GLO works with local governments to issue advisories warning the public not to swim in affected waters.

Q: How many beaches are sampled under the Texas Beach Watch Program? How often are samples collected?

A: Water samples are collected from 167 stations at approximately 67 recreational beaches along the Texas coast in Aransas, Brazoria, Cameron, Galveston, Jefferson, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces and San Patricio counties. Water samples are collected weekly during the peak beach season, which runs from May through September, and every two weeks during the rest of the year. The one exception occurs in March when weekly sampling is conducted to coincide with spring break at Beach Watch monitored gulf beaches.

Q: How can I check the water quality at my favorite beach before I make the trip there?

A: Water quality conditions at beaches being sampled under the Texas Beach Watch Program can be obtained through the interactive map.
Water quality information on the Beach Watch site is updated each time sample results are entered into the database. Using the interactive map tool, visitors to the site can check results from specific sampling locations; determine when samples were collected and whether an advisory has been recommended. Many local governments also choose to post advisory signs at beach access points where the water exceeds acceptable bacterial levels.

Q: What does it mean when an advisory is posted for a beach? Is the water safe for swimming? How long does an advisory last?

A: A water quality advisory is issued when bacteria levels in the water could cause someone to become sick. Under the Texas Beach Watch Program, water is tested weekly for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria. Enterococcus bacteria thrive in water contaminated with sewage or storm water runoff, and scientists often use the bacteria to indicate the presence of harder to detect, disease-causing microorganisms. When Enterococcus levels exceed the EPA's minimum standard, a water quality advisory is recommended. In general, when a water quality advisory is recommended, contact with the water at that beach should be avoided. This includes swimming, wading, fishing, surfing, kayaking, etc.
When samples indicate that bacteria levels are high enough to warrant an advisory, the water at that beach must be sampled every 24 hours until bacteria levels fall within a safe range. An advisory lasts at least 24 hours but can be extended if bacteria levels continue to exceed recommended levels.

Q: Where does this contamination come from?

A: Bacteria in coastal recreational waters come from a variety of sources--both near the shore and inland. These sources include sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, storm water runoff, boating waste, humans and animals. Elevated bacteria levels are also associated with rainstorms. Water contact should be avoided for 48 hours following periods of heavy, prolonged rainfall.

Q: Can I still use beaches that are under advisories?

A: The public may use a beach under a water quality advisory, as long as local authorities have not closed that beach. Although contact with the water is discouraged until the advisory is cancelled, beaches offer plenty of other recreational opportunities including volleyball, sunbathing, beachcombing, playing, picnicking and much, much more.